The old proverb that "patience, time and money accommodate all things" is
certainly true for professionals who work with sexually abused children.
Unfortunately, we often have an abundance of patience and time but not nearly enough
money. This makes the task of fundraising seem overwhelming for those already struggling
to help children overcome and prevent abuse.
Key Topics:
 Organized Plan for Annual Giving
Annual Membership Drive
Special Events
Donations
However, with an organized plan for an annual giving program, fundraising can be a lot of
fun! It is relatively easy to gain support in the local community for a children's
advocacy center (CAC) or program that focuses on helping children, especially those who
have been abused. This cause seems to touch the hearts of many people.
Local fundraising can provide the monies needed to fill the gap between your budget and
other sources of income. Community support also starts the groundwork for fundraising on a
larger scale (corporations, foundations, endowments etc.). A strong annual giving program
is a vital part of every child-focused agency. Annual giving is defined as the events and
fundraising efforts your agency sponsors every year. It includes membership drives,
special events, donations, United Way funds, etc.
At the National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC), annual giving comprises approximately
55% of the annual revenue for the local programs.
This includes United Way and Children's Charities of America funds, memberships,
donations, and other fundraising events.
How do you start such a program? Most established agencies have some annual giving already
factored into their budgets. If so, organize and review your funds on a calendar and look
for the months or weeks during which income is down. These are the periods when you will
want to strengthen your fundraising.
Annual giving can be very time-consuming if it is to yield increasingly higher dollars
each year--reporting, acknowledging donations, receipting, planning and strategizing take
time. But for the donor, grantor or volunteer, these elements are crucial.
After 11 years, the NCAC has successful, diversified and consistent annual fundraising
program. Some components include: annual membership drive, special events, and donations.
Annual Membership drive
A CAC is an organization that people like to support, especially on an annual basis. A
membership drive is the ideal way to develop a donor base and then build and cultivate a
relationship with these donors as annual members and friends of your organization.
Ever membership drive should begin with a strategic plan that includes a goal, levels of
membership, number of members needed at each level to reach the goal, a volunteer
chairperson and teams (each with a team captain), a brochure, a through publicity plan, a
plan for record-keeping, prizes, and a big kickoff.
The NCAC created its local membership program in 1993 and set a goal of $16,000. However,
research of previous donors indicated this goal was too low, so it was revised to $40,000.
Our strategy was to have six levels of membership, ranging from the $15 "Buddy"
level to the $1,000 "Benefactor" level, and we recruited a strong, well-known
chairperson from the community.
After receiving 100% support and participation from the agency staff and Board of
Directors the chairperson and 16 teams of individuals set out to find new corporate and
individual members for our agency. The drive ended three months later with almost $51,000
raised, which included 27 members at the Benefactor level. (The goal had been to recruit
10 Benefactors.)
The second year of membership has just ended with a 22% increase in dollars ($62,000),
Which reflects a growing number of members while maintaining the original membership base.
If you plan to incorporate a membership program into your fundraising plan, be thoroughly
organized before you start, be prompt with acknowledgments and make sure you ask everyone
to join your organization.
Special Events
Special events are another important part of an annual giving program.
These can yield dollars for your program, raise friends, increase public awareness and
lead to new volunteers for your programs.
Deciding which events are right for your agency is the first step. Hold a planning meeting
with the Fundraising Committee of the Board of Directors to review the many options:
sports events, cooking events, celebrity events, cookbooks, galas, etc. Then fit the
events into your agency calendar through careful planning with a chairperson and
committee. Finally, develop a good publicity plan and work closely with the local media to
carry it out.
Donations
Through events, publicity, and a membership program, people will learn about your
agency and want to make donations. Nurture those relationships, because most of the
philanthropic dollars given in America come from individuals.
Be sure to acknowledge every gift promptly. If possible, say "thank you" more
than once--invite them to events and put them on your mailing list. The system used by the
NCAC for thanking donors includes letters, hand-written notes and phone calls.
A membership drive, special events, and donations are just a few of the fundraising
efforts that will build a successful annual giving program.
Initially, they each work independently, and then eventually build on each other.
Memberships will help to identify new annual donors; donors will suggest events and
volunteer their time; through events you will identify new donors; etc.
Keep in mind that people give to people, and the number one reason people don't give is
because no one asked them!
No matter which strategy you choose, it's important to have an annual giving program in
your community. After all, can we ever have enough money to serve the children we love?
|
